Assessment of Frailty Status and Its Association with Heart Rate Variability and Body Composition Among Patients with...

To evaluate frailty status and its association with heart rate variability (HRV), body composition, and metabolic profile in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

In this cross-sectional study, 139 T2DM patients (age 50-65 years) were recruited. Frailty status was classified as non-frail, pre-frail, or frail using the Physical Frailty Phenotype (PFP) criteria. Outcome measures included HRV from a 5-minute ECG, body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis, and a full metabolic profile.

The prevalence of pre-frailty or frailty was 95%. Increasing frailty status was significantly associated with autonomic dysfunction, characterized by reduced parasympathetic and increased sympathetic HRV indices (e.g., higher LF:HF ratio, p=0.003). Frail patients had a significantly higher fat percentage (p=0.015) and lower lean percentage (p=0.015) compared to non-frail participants. Poorer glycemic control (HbA1c: p=0.003) and a more adverse lipid profile were also significantly associated with worsening frailty.

Frailty is highly prevalent in this T2DM cohort and is associated with significant adverse changes in autonomic function, body composition, and cardiometabolic health, highlighting the need for a multifaceted management approach.